2526-015 Longleaf Seedlings ITB.pdf

SUWANNEE RIVER WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT

INVITATION TO BID

NO. 25/26-015 OPS

CONTAINERIZED PINE SEEDLINGS

Table of Contents

Section Title Page 1 Introduction 2 2 Proposed Schedule 2 3 Instructions to Proposers 2 4 Key Points 2 5 Scope of Work 7 6 Proposal Response Forms 8

Suwannee River Water Management District

9225 CR 49

Live Oak, FL 32060 386.362.1001

386.362.1056 (Fax)

800.226.1066 (Florida only) www.mysuwanneeriver.com

SECTION 1 - INTRODUCTION

The Suwannee River Water Management District (also referred to as SRWMD or District) owns and manages approximately 160,000 acres of forestland in north central Florida for protection of floodplains and their associated habitats. The District’s Land Management Program directs land management staff to manage and, if necessary, restore lands titled to the Governing Board.

Reforestation of pine lands with healthy, vigorous seedlings is conducive in accomplishing this goal.

The District is requesting bids to provide 255,000 containerized longleaf pine seedlings to reforest approximately 351 acres in the winter of 2026-2027.

SECTION 2 - PROPOSED SCHEDULE

July 17, 2026 Release of Invitation to Bid (ITB) August 3, 2026 Bids due prior to 10:00 am online through DemandStar

* Denotes a public meeting. All times denote Eastern Standard Time (EST).

SECTION 3 - INSTRUCTION TO BIDDERS

Submit Bids Electronically through DemandStar.

https://www.demandstar.com/app/agencies/florida/suwannee-river-water-management-district/procurement

For articles and videos to assist you through the DemandStar registry and uploading of documents visit the DemandStar business support page at -https://network.demandstar.com/business-support/

If you are unfamiliar with DemandStar, please submit your bid far enough in advance to work through any complications you may have with the system.

Bids are to be uploaded to the platform prior to 10:00 a.m. on August 3, 2026. Bids received after this time, for any reason, will be rejected.

ADA Compliance: All bids submitted in electronic/digital format must include a certification by the Vendor that the electronic submission and all supporting documents are accessible according to 282.603 Florida Statutes and Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 relating to the creation and use of electronic documents. This requirement applies to editable formats, such as Microsoft Word, as well as portable document formats (PDF).

Additional bid packages may be obtained by logging on to www.mysuwanneeriver.com.

Bidders must submit the forms provided in Sections 6. All entries on the bid form shall be typed or legibly printed in ink.

SECTION 4 – KEY POINTS

Evaluation by District: In accordance with subsection 287.057(1)(a) 4, the contract shall be awarded to the responsible and responsive vendor who submits the lowest bid.

Contract Term – Beginning at the execution of contract and ending September 30, 2027.

Challenge of Solicitation Process: If a potential bidder protests any provisions of this ITB, a notice of intent to protest shall be filed with the District in writing within 72 hours after the posting of the invitation to bid on the District’s website. “Failure to file a protest within the time prescribed in Section 120.57(3) Florida Statutes shall constitute a waiver of proceedings under Chapter 120 of Florida Statutes.”

Challenge of District’s Intent to Award Contract: If a bidder intends to protest District’s intent to award a contract, the notice of intent to protest must be filed in writing within 72 hours after posting of a notice of intent to award a contract and the bidder shall file a formal written protest within ten (10) days after filing of a notice of intent to protest. Any bidder who files a formal written protest pursuant to Chapter 28-110, Florida Administrative Code, and Section 120.57(3), Florida Statutes shall post with the District at the time of filing the formal written protest, a bond pursuant to Section 287.042(2) (c), Florida Statutes (2013).

Failure to file a notice of intent to protest or failure to file a formal written protest within the time prescribed in Chapter 28-110, Florida Administrative Code and Section 120.57(3), Florida Statutes, or failure to post the bond or other security required by law within the time allowed for filing a bond shall constitute a waiver of proceedings under Chapter 120, Florida Statutes. More specifically, “Failure to file a protest within the time prescribed in Section 120.57(3) Florida Statutes shall constitute a waiver of proceedings under Chapter 120 of Florida Statutes.”

Americans with Disabilities Act: The District does not discriminate upon the basis of any individual’s disability status. This nondiscrimination policy involves every aspect of the District’s functions including one’s access to, participation, employment, or treatment in its programs or activities. Anyone requiring reasonable accommodation as provided for in the Americans with Disabilities Act should contact Sharon Hingson, Records and Contracts Manager, at

386.362.1001 or 800.226.1066 (Florida only).

Minority Business Enterprises: The District recognizes fair and open competition as a basic tenet of public procurement. Bidders doing business with the District are prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, creed, national origin, handicap, age, or sex. The District encourages participation by minority business enterprises. Whenever two or more service providers are ranked equally, a minority business enterprise shall be given preference in the award process.

Veteran’s Preference: In the absence of a minority business enterprise, whenever two or more service providers are ranked equally, a veteran-owned business enterprise shall be given preference in the award process.

Drug Free Workplace Act: The selected bidder(s) shall certify that it has established a drug free workplace.

Public Entity Crime: Section 287.133(2)(a), Florida Statutes, states “A person or affiliate who has been placed on the convicted vendor list following a conviction for a public entity crime may not submit a bid on a contract to provide any goods or services to a public entity, may not submit a bid on a contract with a public entity for the construction or repair of a public building or public work, may not submit bids on leases of real property to a public entity, may not be awarded or perform work as a contractor, supplier, subcontractor, or consultant under a contract with any public entity, and may not transact business with any public entity in excess of the threshold amount provided in s.287.017 for CATEGORY TWO for a period of 36 months from the date of being placed on the convicted vendor list.”

Scrutinized Company: Section 287.135, Florida Statutes, states “A company is ineligible to, and may not, bid on, submit a proposal for, or enter into or renew a contract with an agency or local governmental entity for goods or services of:

a. Any amount if, at the time of bidding on, submitting a proposal for, or entering into or renewing such contract, the company is on the Scrutinized Companies that Boycott Israel List, created pursuant to s. 215.4725, or is engaged in a boycott of Israel; or

b. One million dollars or more if, at the time of bidding on, submitting a proposal for, or entering into or renewing such contract, the company:

1. Is on the Scrutinized Companies with Activities in Sudan List or the Scrutinized Companies with Activities in the Iran Petroleum Energy Sector List, created pursuant to s. 215.473; or

2. Is engaged in business operations in Cuba or Syria.”

Insurance Requirements: If awarded, BIDDERS shall represent and guarantee that all employees, agents, servants, or representatives of the bidder, and all employees, agents, servants, or representatives of subcontractors are covered by workers' compensation insurance.

Prior to entering into a contract with the District, bidder agrees to furnish the District certificates of insurance on all insurance, naming District as additional insured for items 2 and 3 below, providing evidence that bidder has in full force and effect the following minimum insurance with insurers authorized to do business in the State of Florida:

1) Workers' compensation insurance as required above.

2) Motor vehicular liability insurance with limits of not less than $1,000,000 combined single limit which insurance shall be applicable to any and all vehicles utilized by bidder to provide the services requested by District.

3) General liability insurance for all services rendered by bidder for the requested services with a minimum of $1,000,000 personal and advertising injury and $1,000,000 general aggregate.

The certificate of insurance shall also provide that District shall be notified in writing by the carrier at least 30 days prior to any cancellation of said insurance.

Rejection of Responses: The District reserves the right to reject any and all bids or other bids submitted in response to the District invitation. The District also reserves the right to waive any minor deviations or obvious scrivener’s errors in an otherwise valid bid.

Execution of Contracts: An electronic copy of the contract will be provided to the selected bidders after approval by the Executive Director or Governing Board. The bidders, within ten (10) days of the date of receipt, shall execute and return the contract to District, along with the following:

a) A completed Internal Revenue Service Form W-9.

b) Satisfactory evidence of all required insurance coverage.

c) Proof satisfactory to District of the authority of the person or persons executing the contract on behalf of the Bidders, and

d) All other information and documentation required by the contract documents.

The above documents must be furnished, executed, and delivered before the contract will be executed by the District. The contract shall not be binding upon the District until it has been executed by the District and a copy of fully executed contract is delivered to the contractor. The District reserves the right to cancel the award without liability and at any time before the contract has been fully executed by all parties and delivered to the contractor.

Failure to Execute Contract: Failure upon the part of the bidder to whom the contract has been awarded to execute and deliver the contract, and to furnish the evidence required in “Execution of Contracts” “a – d” above, within ten (10) days after the date of the award shall be just cause, in the sole discretion of the District, for the annulment of the award.

Notice and Services Thereof: All notices given by District, under the provisions of this contract, shall be in writing, and service of same may be in either of the following manners:

a) By delivery of such notice to the bidder or any office of the bidder if said bidder is a corporation, partnership, or LLC or to any agent of the bidder.

b) By mailing such a notice by United States mail to the address of the bidder shown on the bidder’s bid.

The District shall not accept as filed any electronically transmitted facsimile pleadings, petitions, notice of protests, or other documents.

Florida Sales Tax: The District is exempt from payment of State of Florida sales tax pursuant to section 212.08(6), Florida Statutes.

Time of Completion: Each bidder agrees that the time is of the essence and further agrees that if awarded the contract, bidder shall proceed with the specified work in accordance with the approved schedule and within the time period specified in each task work assessment.

Use by Other State of Florida Governmental Entities: Other State of Florida governmental entities may purchase from the Agreement to be awarded pursuant to this bid provided such use of the bid has been determined to be cost-effective by the entity. Eligible users of this bid include other water management districts, State of Florida agencies (including members of the state university system and community college system), counties, local county Boards of Public Instruction, municipalities, and other local public agencies or authorities. The general terms and conditions of this bid shall apply to the services procured by other State of Florida governmental entities referencing this bid.

The bidder has the option of providing services described under this bid to other State of Florida governmental entities at bidder’s discretion.

Funding mechanisms/work assignments must be executed in advance of work performed for another State of Florida governmental entity. The governmental entity shall utilize appropriate funding mechanisms (purchase orders, etc.) to authorize performance by bidders. All Work performed under a funding mechanism executed by another state of Florida governmental entity shall be the responsibility of that governmental entity for payment. The District shall not be a party to any such funding mechanism thereby executed and shall not be responsible for payment for any services performed for any governmental entity that utilizes bidders pursuant to this section of the bid.

Contract/project managers shall be identified for each work assignment executed between the bidders and another governmental entity. The District’s project manager(s) shall not be responsible for any work performed under any bid between another governmental entity and the bidders.

SECTION 5 - SCOPE OF WORK

Provide needed containerized longleaf pine seedlings. This includes 255,000 for planting 351 acres in the winter of 2026-27. All work must be coordinated with the District Project Manager or their appointed agent(s). Lifting and packaging the seedlings for storage and transportation to the field will commence within 10 days’ notice from the District Project Manager that conditions are acceptable. Barring unanticipated delays planting may commence by November 15, 2026, and be completed no later than March 30, 2027. Seedlings must be available during those dates.

Seedling quality must comply with the quality standards listed below. The District may request to inspect the seedlings slated for District lands at any time. Invoices for payment may be submitted after the seedlings are planted; planting will not exceed seven (7) days after seedling pick-up or delivery.

Seedling Production Standards:

• Seedlings ready to plant upon leaving the nursery with no evidence of disease

• Needles medium to dark green and greater than 5 inches

• Root Collar Diameter greater than or equal to ¼ inch with winter bud present

• Roots light brown in color with white tips with mycorrhizae present

• Container length greater than or equal to 5 inches

• Packaged for storage and transportation in containers that ensure root systems remain intact and moist prior to planting

Section 6

ITB 26/27-015 OPS

Containerized Longleaf Pine Seedlings

Bidders are required to complete and submit this form.

Company Name ___________________________________________________

FEID # ___________________________________________________

Address ___________________________________________________

Company Phone Number ___________________________________________________

Company Fax Number ___________________________________________________

Primary Contact Person ___________________________________________________

Primary Contact Phone ___________________________________________________

Primary Contact Cellular ___________________________________________________

Email Address ___________________________________________________

Containerized Longleaf Pine Seedling Bid

$____________ per 1,000 seedlings

HUMAN TRAFFICKING AFFIDAVIT

CONTRACT NUMBER:

CONTRACT TITLE:

In compliance with Section 787.06(13), Florida Statutes, this affidavit must be completed by an officer or representative of a nongovernmental entity that is executing, renewing, or extending a contract with the Suwannee River Water

Management District (the “Governmental Entity”).

The undersigned, on behalf of the entity listed below (the “Nongovernmental Entity”), hereby attests under penalty of perjury as follows:

1. My name is and I am over eighteen years of age. The following information is given from my own personal knowledge.

2. I am an officer or representative with , a non-governmental entity. I am authorized to provide this affidavit on behalf of

3. The non-governmental entity, , does not use coercion for labor or services as defined in s.787.06, Florida

Statutes.

Company:

Authorized Signature: Date:

Printed Name:

Title: